Nina Rapisarda

Nina Suzanne Rapisarda passed away after a brief illness on 1/1/2015 at the age of 58 surrounded by her family. Nina was born and raised in Evanston, IL. She moved to Yakima in 1986 after receiving her Masters degree in social work from Syracuse University. She is survived by her husband Steven Van Tassel, her daughter Sophie Van Tassel and her son Joseph Van Tassel, as well as her siblings Paul Rapisarda (Wendy), John Rapisarda (Julie), Luisa Rapisarda (Terry), along with 14 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Alice L. Rapisarda in 2010 and John G. Rapisarda in 2001. She was highly regarded in her field and spent her career working with children and families in the foster care system and with individuals who were in need of mental health services. Nina worked at Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health “FACES” Program, from 1986 to 1993. In 1993 she was employed at Casey Family Programs until 2003; she returned to CWCMH from 2003 to 2013. In 2013 she again was employed at Casey Family Programs.

Nina had a great love for her family, her friends and her many animals. She spent many hours taking care of her miniature donkey, horse and dogs. Nina had a beautiful voice and was a member of the Yakima Symphony Chorus from 1990 to 1995 and she was an active member of Temple Shalom in Yakima. Nina looked forward to the family trips to the Washington and Oregon coast and going to the mountains whether it was for mushroom hunting, firewood cutting, or camping. She truly had an adventurous spirit.

Nina loved to dance and expressed herself by writing music. She loved challenges and worked well with folks from many ethnic and cultural backgrounds. She composed a song that became the anthem for the “FACES” treatment foster care program and then another such creation was for The Casey Family Program titled “Seeing Each Other Through” which was a culmination of youth sharing their voice in music. The intro to “Seeing Each Other Through” was written because of a challenge, given to Nina to come up with something that would capture the spirit of their total program; the logo was a rainbow with people helping each other over it. This song is really about all of us helping each other out, no matter what the circumstances, and the incredible, emotional and spiritual power that doing this created.

She was an extraordinary, caring, kind, compassionate and loving individual with a great sense of humor who would laugh easily. Nina’s warm smile and presence in our lives will be forever missed. A memorial service will be held 1/18/15 at the Arboretum at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nina’s memory to the Michael J Fox Foundation, cancer research or any organization that supports animal rights and welfare. She was a bright STAR!

The family would like to thank the staff at Virginia Mason Critical Care Unit for all the wonderful care and support during her illness.

To share a memory of Nina, visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.